Electronic Reminder System Improves Contact Lens Compliance, Study Shows

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Studies show that many contact lens wearers do not comply with recommended replacement frequencies and fail to discard their lenses after the scheduled time.  Now, new data suggests that the ACUMINDER® Tool, an electronic reminder service, can help contact lens wearers better adhere to the recommended replacement schedule prescribed by their doctor. The results were presented this past weekend at the 2012 British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference.

A total of 680 U.S. contact lens wearers participated in an online survey. Participants were wearers of either two-week or monthly replacement lenses.

Prior to using the ACUMINDER® Tool, the average two-week lens wearer wore his/her lens for an average of 19.9 days, while monthly lens wearers changed their lenses an average of every 35.6 days. After using the electronic reminder, two-week lens wearers reported that they replaced their lenses on average every 14.7 days while monthly wearers averaged 30 days. Of those surveyed, 90 percent agreed that the ACUMINDER® Tool made remembering to change lenses much easier.

"Adherence to prescribed replacement schedules and recommended wearing schedules, as well as regular return visits to the eye care practitioner for yearly examinations, are essential to good eye health," says study author Janelle Routhier, O.D. FAAO, Manager of Medical Affairs, VISTAKON®  Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.  "Two-in-three (66 percent) of survey participants believe that the ACUMINDER® Tool changed their wearing behavior.  By following instructions on proper wear and care, contact lens wearers are less likely to experience discomfort and lower their risk for infection or other serious complications such as microbial keratitis."

About the ACUMINDER® Tool

Since its launch in 2007, more than 275,000 U.S. contact lens wearers have registered for the free service (www.acuminder.com) which sends an automatic reminder via e-mail and/or cell phone text message on when to change contact lenses, when to buy new contacts, and when to schedule an eye exam. Developed by VISTAKON® Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and maker of ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses, the free electronic reminder service is open to all contact lens wearers. 

The study was sponsored by VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. 

Source: Routhier, J., Hickson-Curran, S., Kreul-Starr,E.," We Hear and We Forget. We See and We Remember.  How Effective is an Electronic Reminder when it comes to our Patient's Contact Lens Compliance?"

ACUVUE®, ACUMINDER® and VISTAKON® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

SOURCE VISTAKON(R), Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.